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Which seven-seater will I buy and what will I trade in?

I am looking for a seven seater.  Do I change my 2010 Toyota Corolla or my husband's 2005 Citroen Berlingo? I'm looking at a 2009 Opel Zafira.

 

 

Shane Oneill (Kildare)

Feb 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Shane,

Well it depends on how much you want to spend really. There is going to be a lot more value in your Corolla than in the 2005 Citroen Berlingo so you wouldn't have to spend much money to get into a Zafira.

There really aren't a lot of 2009 Opel Zafiras around. In fact we found just four on sale in the classifieds. The cheapest of these was just under €17,000 for a petrol version. Since your Corolla would be worth more than this you would want change back from the dealer, which is something that can be hard to achieve.

A much better buy would be something like this diesel Ford S-Max. This car is bigger and better than the Opel Zafira, is closer in price to your Corolla and is a brilliant family car.

Your Citroen Berlingo might fetch between €3,000 - €5,000 depending on mileage and condition and if it is reliable I would keep it until it stops.

I hope this helps!


What car-based van will I buy?

I currently drive a 2005 Toyota Avensis saloon - 1.6-litre petrol. I travel up to 450 miles every week to work so I'm looking at getting a diesel car, maybe a VW Golf van, Peugeot van or Skoda Octavia. Don't really know to be honest.

I don't mind a van as my girlfriend has a Ford Focus that I could use whenever needed. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ronan O Connor (Kildare)

Feb 2011 Filed under: commercial vehicle

Expert answer

Hi Ronan,

I reckon a Volkswagen Golf Van would do a brilliant job for you. You told us by e-mail that you have another €2,000 to spend on top of the value of your Toyota Avensis so I reckon this one could be a good option. 

The Ford Focus van is good too, but I don't imagine you want to be a two Focus family! If I was having a car-van I'd have a Golf. 

Hope that helps


Should I buy at an auction?

I am a 24-year-old man looking for my first car. I am looking for something of medium size, medium to small engine and a solid car. I was just wondering is it a good idea to go to car auctions or are they a bit of a gamble. Or what could you recommend with a budget of a maximum of €4k?

John Doheny (Kilkenny)

Jan 2011 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi John,

The auctions have got a lot better than they used to and they are much more popular than ever because essentially it cuts out the middle man. Some auctions such as Merlin now offer a warranty with the auction car so that does take the total risk out of buying. Generally if a car is in an auction there is a reason - it is either a car that someone is trying to get rid of in a hurry; it could be a bit of a heap; or more recently you could find that it is a car that has been repossessed by the banks. These later ones can and often are perfect. By all means give the auction a go, but firstly as an observer. It is easy to get carried away by the auction experience as it can be quite a thrill. 

In general, I would say that if you are buying a slightly larger car for a small budget then make it Japanese. It might not be sexy but something like a Toyota Avensis or Corolla will provide you with the most trouble free motoring for your budget. 

Something like this could do a good job - it's a Corolla 1.6 petrol. It isn't exciting, but neither are large repair bills. Here is the newer shape Avensis with higher mileage but this could be a decent buy. 

I wouldn't really stray much further than these if you want a decent solid car. 

I hope this helps. 


Which mid-size SUV for €20,000?

What would you recommend in terms of a mid-size 4X4/SUV? Diesel is the preferred option with a sensible tax band a major consideration as well as decent fuel economy. I have circa €20,000 to spend on straight cash deal.

 

 

Maurice Hannon (Galway)

Dec 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Maurice,

If I were spending my own money on something like this I would probably narrow my search down to a few key models. I would also look at something that was pre-July 2008 as the road tax is a little easier to stomach.  You didn't specify whether you need it to be a 4x4, because this does tend to make them a little harder on fuel.

The Toyota RAV4 isn't massive but it is seriously well put together and you could have a 2.2-litre 2007 model with low mileage for €17,950.

Here's an example on beepbeep.ie.

Road tax at €860 is still a lot though, so that might rule this out.

If you don't need 4x4, then a Nissan Qashqai is quite an obvious choice. You could have a 2009 model, with low mileage and road tax of a just €156 per year, for €20,495. These are popular for a reason, but forget about it if you need to go off-road.

Here's an example on beepbeep.ie.

Again, no four-wheel drive options for your budget, but you could have a Skoda Yeti, which is a great SUV with a decent 2.0-litre TDI engine for €22,750 - although I'd be pushing for closer to €20,000 in a cash deal.

You could have a Nissan X-Trail too, although they can be a little hard to find. They are really good value. Most are two-wheel drive but there are four-wheel drive ones about. This one is a two-wheel drive version, but at €18,500 for a 2008 model it is great value.

Finally, the latest Land Rover Freelander is much better than the model that went before it. You can have it with a 2.2-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive and that would be in and around the right money.

Here's an example.

Out of this lot, I'd be inclined to go for the Nissan X-Trail.

Hope that helps. Let us know what you end up going for.


Which estates have seven seats?

Can you recommend any estate car (not SUV or MPV) that can seat seven?

Paul Stack (Co Kildare)

Dec 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Paul,

I am not sure if you want a new car or a used car. In terms of a new car, there aren't all that many seven seat estates anymore. First up is the Peugeot 308 SW, which is available with a third row of seats. However, it doesn't seem to be offered on Peugeot's online price list anymore - since the 3008 arrived it doesn't really have a large audience. We did contact Peugeot though and if you do want a 308 SW with seven seats the car is available on special order. A 1.6 HDi 308 SW seven seater will cost from €25,725 plus delivery and a 2.0 HDi will cost from €28,150.

But you can have a 2008 307 SW model for very little money. This one is just €9,990 for a 1.6-litre diesel. 

Mercedes-Benz still does a seven-seat option for the E-Class Estate, but the third row is best suited to kids. That range starts at €46,500 before you start putting in optional extras. 

Here is a quite nice 2004 model though: low mileage, a nice 2.7-litre diesel engine and it is a decent price too. 

Add more detail in the comment box below if you'd like to know more.

Thanks a lot.


Should I buy an Alfa Brera?

Hey Paddy,

One of the lads in the office has a pal that's looking at this Alfa Brera.

What do you reckon?

Runner or not?

Gavan O'Brien (Kildare)

Nov 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Gavan,

That is a lot of car for very little money. There are a few things to consider here. It is a V6 model, so it is one of the lesser sold Breras. Yes, it is the best one, but it will also be pretty difficult to sell on again and 2-3 years down the line it could be pretty worthless. 

On the plus side though it has bags of character and that V6 is lovely and the Brera has been reasonably headache free.

With this car, it is entirely a heart purchase, the head doesn't come into it. Do all the relevant background checks, be surgical about how the service history is examined and have an Alfa expert run their eye over it and you could have a very nice car that makes the German clones look dull as dishwater. 


Should I buy now or wait until the New Year?

Hi guys,

Is there any point in changing my car this side of Christmas? I am going from a 2006 Opel Vectra to a 2008 Mazda6.

Thanks Mick

Michael Mulvey (Ashbourne)

Oct 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Mick,

If you talk to the trade at the moment, they will say that there is something of a shortage of good used cars around. Generally as people buy in the early parts of the year then you will get a lot of second-hand cars floating around so there is a case for waiting. On the other hand, your 2006 Vectra is regarded as another year older. If you can get the right deal why not do it now? 

The only thing to worry about is a shortage of diesel Mazda6 models from that year. You didn't specify if you wanted petrol or diesel, but there are twice as many petrol examples available. Having said that, I really like this diesel model here, but it is a little on the pricey side. You would pay significantly less for a petrol model with lower mileage, such as this one

What I would say is that you will get more attention in the dealerships now, or at least you should do. It can be frustrating going into the dealers in January when they are busy, so bear that in mind. 


A new estate with a diesel engine and four-wheel drive?

I want to buy a new station wagon with a diesel engine, automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. There seem to be very few options, e.g the Volvo XC70, which is too expensive. Can you recommend any alternatives?

Pat Norris (Clonakilty)

Oct 2010 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Pat,

This is a very particular car that you are looking for, but thankfully there are some options for you without spending the sort of money that you would need for a Volvo XC70. For a start you could choose something from the Audi range, which has some Avant models with quattro all-wheel drive. You could have an Audi A4 allroad quattro, which could be just about right for what you need as it has a good 2.0-litre diesel engine and has an elevated ride height so it can cope with the odd muddy field. It is a handsome thing too. This starts at €45,400 and while it isn't very well known it is a cracking car.

A cheaper option but along the same lines would be the Skoda Octavia Scout, which has a 140hp diesel engine, a decent 4x4 system and loads of luggage space. The emissions are a little high though, at 173g/km, which makes it Band E in terms of road tax. 

Another really good choice would be the Subaru Outback, which comes with a superb 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine and all-wheel drive. Subaru is really talented at making this sort of vehicle and I've driven this car and really rate it. It has 150hp, 350Nm of torque and it still comes with reasonable emissions of 156g/km, putting it in motor tax Band D. There is no automatic option for this car though, so that perhaps rules it out for you. 

If you could cope without an automatic transmission then the Subaru would be the best buy, but I guess the Audi with quattro in an A4 Avant is your best choice. However, you are going to have difficulty with the A4 allroad in terms of you cannot have an automatic in the 2.0-litre TDI it seems, only in the 2.0-litre FSI petrol or the 3.0-litre TDI. 

Hope that helps anyway


What will I replace my Mitsubishi L200 with?

Hi,

I am driving a Mitsubishi L200 pick-up, but I am thinking of changing. I like the height of the driving position, but I am looking for lower tax and a diesel engine that's more economical. Any suggestions?

Marie Finucane (Clare)

Sep 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Marie,

We had a chat on the phone to get more information and now know that you would prefer to sell the L200 privately and use the cash to buy your next vehicle, so your budget is about €10,000 - €12,000.

The difficulty in getting something with height is that the SUVs going back a few years tended to be diesel with fairly large engines, so before 2008 these engines were in some cases cheaper to tax than they are now. Emissions were higher, but you were charged - as you are probably aware - for the size of your engine. I'm sure you don't want to get landed with a high road tax bill per year, but we will explore some options. 

The first is a 2004 Toyota RAV4. There is a model in a dealership in Louth, which I realise is quite far from you, but this diesel model is a beaut and is at a SIMI dealer so this brings with its some safeguards. This RAV4 is under €10,000 and has low mileage, though is going to cost €823 to tax each year. 

The Kia Sportage fiesel would be a great little buy for you. This small SUV has proven to be very reliable and very well liked by owners. This one in Cork is a little over your budget, but as a cash buyer I would think you could bargain down the asking price of €13,900. 

A car that you might not have thought of, but I have always rated as a good little car, is the Fiat Sedici. This small SUV has four-wheel drive, a diesel engine and is cheap to buy and run. We found a 2009 model in Laois with just 23,000 miles on the clock and the asking price is just €11,750. This would be a nice little runabout and it still retains some of the height of the SUV. This will cost you €447 per year to tax. 

Another good choice, although the annual tax will be the same as the RAV4's, is the Nissan X-Trail. This is a really nice example from 2005 that has a 2.2-litre diesel engine and would be a nice vehicle to own. Again, if you couldn't cope with the high annual road tax then it might not be the best option for you. 

I'd be inclined, if it were me, to buy that RAV4, as it would be a nice vehicle to own. 

I hope this helps!


What will I replace my 5 Series with?

Hi Complete Car,

I am upgrading my car. My budget is around the €25k mark. First off, I'm no expert, but I do know I'm not much into speed and performance; I'm more into comfort and style and I prefer European cars over Asian ones (Honda and Lexus being possible exceptions). I'm a big person myself, over six-foot three so leg- and head room are important.

For the last few years I have had a BMW 5 Series and have always liked BMW so I'm leaning that way. Currently thinking about a BMW 6 Series: there are some '05s floating around that fit the bill.

Question: is the 6 any good? Should I stick to the 5 Series (although I'm not a fan of the recent models in terms of looks)?

I'd be interested to know if you think there are other makes and models I should be looking at. I have tried a few Alfas - 159, Brera and GT - but they didn't grab me, were generally too small and always have that 'rep' associated with them (rightly or wrongly).

I'm not keen on hunting for cars in the UK (the hassle), but is that actually a no-brainer I'd be stupid to ignore?

Should I be looking at a brand new car?

Thanks for your time, and a great car website; the best in my opinion,

Stephen

 

Stephen Moriarty (Dublin)

Jul 2010 Filed under: choosing used car

Expert answer

Hi Stephen,

If you have owned a BMW 5 Series before then you might want a change. The 6 Series is a good car, but like anything else in BMW land when it gets a little older repairs can start to become expensive when things go wrong. I personally wouldn't go near one unless it had a full set of BMW service history stamps and unless I could budget another few thousand for things that might go wrong.

This one here is in a main BMW dealer so will have all the right history and paperwork and is pretty nicely equipped too. It is a little over budget, but I would be shocked if they weren't flexible on a 3.0-litre petrol car these days! The mileage on that example is also very low for the year. These cars have great handling and are usually generously equipped too. Remember though that it will cost quite a bit to run, both in terms of road tax and petrol costs.

Now, for alternatives. You did mention Lexus and the GS 450h hybrid is a wicked car. It is very, very fast, superbly equipped and comfortable. It will be ultra reliable too. You could have this one here, a 2007 model, for €25,950 and it would be a superb car to own. It actually does pretty decent fuel economy too. I'd prefer this to the 6 Series myself.

Or, you could enter Porsche ownership and have the brilliant Boxster S like this example in Galway that has the better engine and comes from a good home. Again, ignore the sticker price, as it is a buyers' market right now. I think you should own a silly car once, so unless you have cots and prams to carry about, I'd be tempted by the Boxster. It isn't going to annoy anyone any more than the 6 Series is.

The UK can be a minefield, but we wouldn't ever rule it out and I myself have bought cars there. What I would say is that the more research you do (and use history checks like motorcheck.ie) the easier it is.

As regards buying new, well you are likely to only afford something pretty dull and I think that you would not be too pleased coming out of a 5 Series. You seem to like interesting stuff.

If it was me, out of that lot I'd probably have the Boxster, but if I needed more practicality, the Lexus.

Hope, this helps. Feel free to come back for more odd suggestions.


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